Carrie sat on her bed crying, rolling the single red rose in her fingers over and over again. Why did this have to happen to her? Everything had been going so well! She thought back to the events that had unfolded to bring her to this point. Devon and Carrie had been dating for 2 years. Everything had been so perfect. Carrie had been sure that Devon was the one. They had even been talking about taking the next step. But then, tonight, Devon had broken off the relationship. His only explanation had been “It’s for the best, Carrie.”

Yeah right! Best for whom? Carrie sulked on her bed.

“Why, God?”

“I think you know the answer to that, Carrie.”

Carrie looked around the room. Was she was hallucinating? No way would the Lord talk to her in ways she could understand. God didn’t care about her. In fact, he confused her. That couldn’t be His voice she’d just heard.

“Yes Carrie, it’s Me.”

Carrie gasped. He had heard her thoughts. She might as well cut to the chase. “Why did Devon leave me? Everything seemed so perfect!”

“But was it?”

“Well, no, of course not. But no one’s relationship is perfect.”

“Very true, Carrie.”

“You still haven’t answered me. Why?”

“I already told you. You know the answer.”

Carrie shook her head, still looking at the rose in her hand. “No I don’t. Devon is a Christian. And a strong one! Much stronger than I am, Lord.”

“Right again, Carrie. But just because you’re both Christians doesn’t mean the relationship was honoring to Me.”

“I don’t understand.”

“You will. I have plans for you and Devon.”

“Yeah, I thought so too, until tonight.”

“I never said I had plans for you to be together. I said I had plans for you.”

“But why can’t we be together? Why does it have to be this way? As long as I’m being honest, I must say, I don’t feel You have my best interests at heart.”

There was a pause in the conversation. Finally, He spoke again. “Carrie, remember Scott?”

“How could I forget?”

“You were mad at Me when he broke up with you, weren’t you?”

“Yeah. I thought we were meant for each other.”

“But what happened next?”

Carrie smiled as the memories of that year flowed back. “You brought Steve into my life. Not as a boyfriend, but as a true friend. He helped me grow closer to You, You know.”

“Yes, Carrie. I know.”

“I didn’t see Your plan at first, but then Steve came along, and I knew he’d help me though my pain.”

“And what about Jacob?”

Carrie giggled. “Jacob was my first love – all the way back in the first grade. What was I thinking?”

“I’m glad you can laugh about it now. When he told you he wanted to play with the boys at recess, you didn’t speak to him for months!”

“Oh, give me a break. I was 7.”

“My point is that even when you think that everything is falling apart, I still have a perfect plan for you! My plans are not your plans, Carrie. My plans are greater than any you could imagine right now.”

“I know that, Lord, but I still don’t understand why it didn’t work out between me and Devon.”

“It’s because you put Devon before Me.”

Carrie winced as she let that sink in. “Ouch.” Carrie sighed. “You’re right. I was kind of hoping You wouldn’t notice.” She looked again at the rose, still twirling between her fingers. “I wasn’t putting You first in my life. You did this so I would learn to completely trust in You.”

“Now you’re getting it.”

“But that doesn’t help the pain much.”

“I know. I know your hurts and your pains. I promise the pain will fade in time. You will find peace.”

Carrie threw the rose onto the floor. “Good riddance.”

“Keep it.”

“Why?”

“To remind you that when you feel that no one else in the world loves you, I do. And like that rose, life has its beautiful moments among the thorns.”

“Thanks.”

“No problem. And remember, I love you, and I will hold you through your pain.”

And with that statement, Carrie bent down, picked up the rose, and cried, knowing that her Savior was there to wipe her tears away.

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I wonder if a person who was blessed enough to hear the audible voice of God would spend so much time arguing with Him over a relatively small matter. Could Carrie have come to this realization another way? The dialog is well-written, and Carrie is a realistic character. Thanks, and keep writing!

Well done! You have some awesome truth in this piece. I especially liked this line showing how foolish we are when we don't trust Jesus, "I don’t feel You have my best interests at heart." Another great point you made about putting other things before God. This sentence is a gem too, "Life has its beautiful moments among the thorns." So true. Very good work.

Great story telling and very good dialogue: I had a wry smile on my face thinking about my own occasional 'Carrie' moments. How patiently He waits for us to learn that He knows best! Lovely. God bless.

Well done. You write convincing dialouge and convey believable emotions. I've been a discontented single, begging God to let me have the guy who wasn't His best for me. I've also been a single who put the guy before God. An excellent message.

I believe we can talk with God this way and that He answers. However, I have found His answers are usually very pointed and concise and I am humbled by them almost immediately. I think I agree that there was a little too much arguing, and I would like to see more action. Still, it is a GREAT first entry. Welcome to the challenge!

Well written entry. I could visualize your character so clearly and identify with her dilemma and her argument with God. One small thing, though, at the beginning she is rolling the rose around in her fingers and not getting pricked by the thorns. Yeggy

I thought I'd look at some of the oldies. You've come a long way in the past six years or so! But even then you were an outstanding writer. Sure the topic wasn't dead on like you nail it today but the dialog with Jesus was awesome. I could so see myself arguing with Him too! I think it has to do with that control thing I often struggle with. What's so awesome about this is how Jesus doesn't stomp off irritated with the fact that a mere human dare challenge him! Oh no He just loves the MC through her broken heart while gently pointing out her mistakes.